Man, 26, shot to death in Albany's West Hill

City police are searching for a murder weapon and suspect Friday evening after a 26-year-old man was shot and killed in West Hill.

Two men were arguing at 7:40 p.m. near the intersection of First Street and Lexington Avenue when one man pulled out a handgun and shot the other multiple times in the torso, Albany police spokesman Officer Steve Smith said.

When officers arrived, the gunman had run off and the victim, who has not yet been publicly identified, was lying on the ground. He was rushed to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Smith said.

The man's death marks the city's second slaying this week and third this year. Twenty-year-old Kenneth Love was gunned down Monday evening near the intersection of Judson and Second streets, just two blocks away from Friday's killing.

Friday's deadly encounter happened just hours after Police Chief Eric Hawkins met with elected officials at City Hall to discuss varied solutions to ongoing crime.

"We have to give our young men and women tools to resolve these conflicts in peaceful ways," Hawkins said Friday evening. "It's not something that happens overnight. You don't change the mindset overnight, but we've started."

The chief said he and city officials agreed that a lack of education, jobs, mental health support and other services are driving forces behind violent crime in Albany. He added that the city can, and plans to, do more to connect folks in need with appropriate social services, as well as offer struggling parents more support and training.

"The police department will continue arresting and prosecuting the individuals who commit this violence," Hawkins said. "But we have to do more, because it is a cycle."

Officers were canvassing the neighborhood around the fatal shooting late Friday for evidence, as they also search for the suspect. Lexington Avenue was closed between Second Street and Clinton Avenue, and First Street between Judson Street and Lexington Avenue.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 518-462-8039. Anonymous tips can be sent to Capital Region Crime Stoppers at capitalregioncrimestoppers.com.

Emily Masters is a web content producer managing the Times Union homepage and social media accounts on the late shift. She also reports on cold cases and missing people. Contact her at emasters@timesunion.com or 518-454-5467.